“I grew up wearing braids and perms, any attempt to make my hair ‘easy’ and ‘manageable’ and ‘normal’ to fit in with my predominantly White environment. Nearly 15 years ago, I decided to let my hair be natural. I wore braids while my perm grew out and then cropped my hair to a very short natural style. I’ve worn my thick, puffy, shiny, [naturally] kinky hair ever since! As a mother raising Black girls, the story of hair and the importance of Black beauty is central to how I see myself and how I teach them about who they are.”
